This is an extremely important book, which, I think, should be required reading for all school pupils because women are still a long way from being treated as equals in our society. As Fara explains, she wrote the book because, in her view “… the main reason for studying the past is to understand the present – and the whole point of doing that is to improve the future.”
My family has commemorated the First World War for as long as I can remember – Grandfather was an Old Contemptible with the Royal Field Artillery, one Great Uncle was killed at Arras and another died at sea just 3 days before the Armistice. In spite of that, I did not realise the extent to which women were involved in the conflict until I began researching for a series of commemorative exhibitions in May 2012. Six years on and Fara’s book has really opened my eyes. I did not know about most of the women Fara has included and I also learnt a lot of other vital background information.
As a scientist herself, Fara, who, among other things, lectures on the history of science at Cambridge Unviersity, has a wealth of professional experience which is put to good use in researching this book - the bibliography alone is the most incredible work.
The book is divided into five sections – Preserving the Past, Facing the Future; Abandoning Domesticity, Working for the Vote; Corridors of Science, Crucibles of Power; Scientific Warfare, Wartime Welfare and Citizens of Science in a Post-War World. Each section has chapters with copious notes which refer you to the bibliography and there are also illustrations throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it is extremely difficult indeed to pick out just one or two points of particular interst. However, I particularly enjoyed reading about: Rachel Costelloe and her fellow cricketers at Newnham College, Cambridge. Rachel became Mrs Ray Strachey, “one of Britains most prominent suffrage campaigners” (Chapter 1). Baden-Powell’s wife Olave, who took over the leadership of the Girl Guides during WW1, urging the girls to “prepare sandbags and collect spagnum moss” for dressing wounds. (p. 54). Nevinson’s “The Acetylene Welder” Lithograph of 1917, which is reproduced on page 85, looks incredibly modern and Mabel Elliott’s outstanding exploits as a member of the British Military Intelligence (p. 183) must have been kept secret for so long due to the Official Secrets Act.
According to Fara, in 1918 King George V said: “When the history of our Countrys share in the war is written, no chapter will be more remarkable than that relating to the range and extent of womens participation…. Some even have fallen under the fire of the enemy. Of all those we think today with reverent pride.” (p.271). I wonder what happened because, since then, that participation seems to have been largely forgotten and most people only remember the Tommies and the trenches – I don’t recall any mention of the women who died while serving. At least the Royal British Legion have amended their WW1 commemortive logo from “Every Man Remembered” to “Everyone Remembered”.
As Fara reminds us, there is no room for complacency in the 21st Century, as women still have a long way to go in the struggle for equality: “Before the First World War, suffragists could see what they were fighting against, but modern discrimination is elusive, insidious and stubbornly hard to eradicate.” (p. 285).
I urge you to read the book for yourselves. May I suggest it be dedicated to Malala Yousafzai?
Lucy London, May 2018
